Outside looking in.

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Every time I watch TLC’s Moving Up, I can’t help but be amazed by all the people who think their house is perfect and can’t imagine why anyone would want to change it. Even if it is a very nice design, that doesn’t mean it will fit with the style of the next owners, you wackos.

It’s times like this that make me wonder why I bother to watch anything on FOX. They cancelled Drive after just four episodes. It seems the ratings weren’t great, but I really have to wonder if FOX gave it enough of a chance. Showing the first two episodes on Sunday night, the third episode the next day, and the fourth episode on the following Monday doesn’t seem conducive to attracting people who didn’t watch the first episode. By the time those people may have become interested in the series, they were probably three episodes behind. Who wants to start watching a new series then? Especially an action-packed show like Drive. I should have learned by now not to watch FOX.

Then again, maybe I’m deluding myself, and it got poor ratings because the majority of my fellow Americans have no taste and would rather watch reality TV.

It’s so refreshing to see two couples on one episode who truly get the point of Trading Spaces. They both said in their interviews for the season three season finale that they just wanted to see what the designers could do. Most people are nervous or downright annoying with the rules they lay down. It’s great to have people who are so into it.

[Married by America][1] is a new Fox show. According to [Fox’s site for the show][3]:

With the help of relationship experts, five potential mates will be handpicked for each of these men and women, but they won’t meet before their engagement. Their friends and family will analyse each of these potential partners, discuss their lives, interests, and intentions and winnow them down. Then, the home audience will be given the opportunity to weigh in and vote by phone to make the final decision as to which of these partners is the perfect match. Once face-to-face, these new couples will embark on a journey toward matrimony in hopes that they have indeed found their one true love.

This is yet another version of the long line of shows including “Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire?”, “The Bachelor”, and “Joe Millionaire” in whch people agree to let a third party decide who they will marry. With this latest one, which seems to be less gimmicky than it’s predecessors, I’m seeing a trend towards the age-old practice of arranged marriages. Perhaps our culture is starting to feel too much pressure to find the “perfect” relationship by themselves. When we look at the way things used to be, we think of how horrible it would be to have your parents force you to marry someone, but then we also think of how stressful finding and marrying someone is yourself.

I finally got to see the episode of “A Wedding Story” about “Trading Spaces” star Paige Davis. I’m so happy that I caught it. I’ve been wanting to see it because I missed it the first time around since I was living without cable at the time. It’s a small thing, but it makes me happy. 😉

“What’s practical doesn’t look good. There probably isn’t a better explanation for why the show is constructed the way it is. Watch an episode of ‘Trading Spaces’ and you will be deceived, but you will not have been betrayed.” — Andy Denhart, “Home Decorating and Other Lies,”Salon.com

I love “Trading Spaces.” I happily watch it whenever I get the chance, so I found this article fascinating. The show is excellently done to make it appear as much as possible that this reality TV show is real. Apparently, many people hold that illusion near and dear. I enjoy that appearance, but I know in the back of my mind that it’s not really possible to make such a dramatic change in two days with the number of people that appear to be involved in the show. Having helped my parents often enough on home improvement projects, it’s just not that easy. 😉

I already know from the FAQ on the “Trading Spaces” web site that the scenes in the final cut are not always from the day they claim to be. That’s why all the participants must wear the same clothes both days. It’s really interesting to see how the rest of show is produced.

In the end, it stings a little to find out that appearances can be deceiving. We hate to have our illusions torn from us. However, Denhart’s conclusion sums it up best. Reality just isn’t as good.